Own Families....

[B Lou]

I had a new DCB start today. He is a cousins boy. This is the first time I've ever agreed to care for a family member due to the business and personal life issue.

It was kind of an emergency situation. But I still feel a little leary about taking him.

Do any of you care of family members? If so what kind of problems do you find?

[cheerfuldom]

I do not take family or friends' kids and am very leary of taking anyone that currently knows one of my other daycare parents. These are the problems that I have encountered or that one of my close provider friends have encountered:

1. People expecting free care, big discounts, early or late hours, weekends, etc.
2. People expecting "special" treatment....no fees for being late, extra activities or what-not for their kid (usually wanting the same things that your own kids have or at least better treatment than an average daycare kid)
3. People being extremely offended or confrontational should you bring up any issue that would not be a problem to discuss with an average daycare parent
4. If daycare parents know each other, they all talk about you behind your back, combine forces to do a mass exodus from your daycare if there is an issue for only one of them, compare notes about who is paying what and getting what and are happy to point out the discrepancies, parents that want to use your house as a hang out place to see their friends.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I do not take family or friends' kids and am very leary of taking anyone that currently knows one of my other daycare parents. These are the problems that I have encountered or that one of my close provider friends have encountered:

1. People expecting free care, big discounts, early or late hours, weekends, etc.
2. People expecting "special" treatment....no fees for being late, extra activities or what-not for their kid (usually wanting the same things that your own kids have or at least better treatment than an average daycare kid)
3. People being extremely offended or confrontational should you bring up any issue that would not be a problem to discuss with an average daycare parent
4. If daycare parents know each other, they all talk about you behind your back, combine forces to do a mass exodus from your daycare if there is an issue for only one of them, compare notes about who is paying what and getting what and are happy to point out the discrepancies, parents that want to use your house as a hang out place to see their friends.

Scary.

[Mom&Provider]

I don't have any family members kids here in my care, but my SIL does. She finds that it's tougher to say no to them when it comes to certain things (sometimes!), but over all not too bad. It's also better when it comes to her needing last minute time off, since family is usually more understanding, but I guess that depends on the family member!? The important thing is to treat the family child like all the other kids in your care, same goes for the parents. Maybe you'd be more chatty with a cousin at pick-ups etc. but all the same rules MUST apply to them as they do to everyone else. They still sign a contract etc. etc.

As for a pp'ers comment about not taking on kids whos parents know each other; I don't see issue with that at all. Besides sometimes word of mouth is the best for business growth! BUT same rules must apply to ALL families and that's key since once you start to let certain families away with things, EVERYONE wants to get away with it too!

Is this situation just temporary? You mentioned it was rushed....

[Meyou]

I provide care for family. They pay the same price and sign the same contract as anyone else. My home is a business during work hours and I'm aunty in my off hours.

I do keep family at odd times (earlier/later) sometimes but they have to ask in advance each time and I do say no whenever it isn't convenient. I've never had a problem.

[cheerfuldom]

I don't have any family members kids here in my care, but my SIL does. She finds that it's tougher to say no to them when it comes to certain things (sometimes!), but over all not too bad. It's also better when it comes to her needing last minute time off, since family is usually more understanding, but I guess that depends on the family member!? The important thing is to treat the family child like all the other kids in your care, same goes for the parents. Maybe you'd be more chatty with a cousin at pick-ups etc. but all the same rules MUST apply to them as they do to everyone else. They still sign a contract etc. etc.

As for a pp'ers comment about not taking on kids whos parents know each other; I don't see issue with that at all. Besides sometimes word of mouth is the best for business growth! BUT same rules must apply to ALL families and that's key since once you start to let certain families away with things, EVERYONE wants to get away with it too!

Is this situation just temporary? You mentioned it was rushed....

I think this is the case if the daycare parents REALLY know each other well, not just a word of mouth sort of thing. If the parents are relatives of each other (not of the provider) or are best friends and super close. They sometimes can come as a package deal....where if one parent gets upset, the other parent will know about it asap (sometimes before the provider) and then you end up having to address things and appease multiple sets of parents, whether it is related to their own child or not. I know one of my local provider friends had a huge problem with two moms at her daycare that were best friends. It got pretty ugly and thankfully, one of the moms ended up having to move out of state so the provider never had to term anyone.

[Kiki]

I provide care for my 2 nieces actually, I've never had an issue with it, but my sister and I are very close, so she understands that this is my business, and a good chunk of how we put food on our table here.
The girls know too that when other DCK are here, they follow the same rules as them, and that after everyone goes home they are free to go and do what they would like because I become their aunt again.

I also currently have 2 DCP that are co-workers, I haven't had any issues with it so far, and am keeping my fingers crossed that I don't. I was just happy that one of the parents was kind enough to refer me as a place for the other parent to come to.

[jojosmommy]

I care for my husbands brothers kids. So my own kids cousins.

I HATE EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

They are terrible kids, have gotten worse over the last two years. I wish everyday I could get rid of them. BUT I CAN'T because of the family aspect.

They pay on time but treat me like I owe them something. I know other regular non related clients can do this too but I would have termed them already.

Plus the worst part is that my own kids do not want to play with their own cousins because they spend 50+ hours a week together as it is. We avoid family functions b/c I already have anough of them during the week and my own kids do not want to be around them another minute.

JMHO. GOOD LUCK.